Polyoxometalate (POM) oxidation of lignin model compounds

Various lignin model compounds were oxidized with polyoxometalate (POM), K-5[SiVW11O40]center dot 12 H2O, in sodium acetate buffer (l =0.2 M, pH 5.0) and the reaction kinetics were investigated. The reactions were found to have second order reaction rates, first order with regards to both lignin model compound and POM. A dramatic increase in reactivity was observed upon addition of methoxyl groups in ortho-positions to the phenolic hydroxyl group. Syringyl units reacted faster than guaiacyl units. Reaction rates of para-substituted guaiacyl and syringyl model compounds showed a strong dependency on the nature of the substituents. The reaction rate of a 5-5' dimer lignin model compound was extremely fast. The addition of the ortho-phenol substituent not only increased the electron density of the aromatic ring, but also helped stabilize the intermediate phenoxy radical through resonance stabilization and delocalization.